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Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Paint Mixing Magic

The other day I came across a video on how to mix paint. In my case, acrylic paint. I don't suppose there is any aspect of painting more fundamental or more important.

In this particular video, you can find it in my video library under color mixing, the instructor shows how every conceivable color can be derived from the three primary colors yellow, red and blue. From just those three colors wheels within wheels, a kaleidoscope of color can be derived. I haven't thought about primary colors since I was in grade school. After watching the video I think primary colors are magical.

My biggest problem is that I mix colors like I do everything else in my creative process. I just make it up in the moment. I've gotten some colors I really liked this way but the problem is I have no idea how I did it so recreating a particular color isn't going to be easy. My muddled mind finds it difficult to focus on particulars whilst I'm creating. When I'm done I can't remember what I did because I didn't pay any attention.

This happens to me a lot with my photography. People will ask how I got a certain result and I will tell them I don't know. I often feel they think I'm being selfish. That's not my intention. I really don't know. I just do what I do. I quite literally don't "know" anything worth passing along. Just like I can't be taught I can't teach either.

With painting I find I think a lot about what I want to create next. I spend several days with ideas swirling around in my mind before I have the courage to pick up the brush again. I liken my mind to a darter fish. It darts here it darts there and sooner or later settles. I get many of my best ideas when I am engaged in an activity totally unrelated to painting. Once I decide to paint I just do it without thinking much at all. It is what it is.

I watched a video on abstract painting where it was a team effort. The man painted whilst the woman mixed the colors. I think not mixing my own colors would take half the fun out of painting. For me mixing color is part of the adventure. At this point my color mixing is kind of a Forest Gump box of chocolates thing. I never know what I'm going to get. With experience I may learn do do it on purpose. That would be good. Meanwhile, I have created some gorgeous colors quite by accident.

I'm lousy at determining how much paint to mix. More often than not I make too much. In order to save paint I have been putting leftovers in capped cups. I save everything. I'm pretty sure I'm going to come up with many more accidental colors.

Paint Saving Cups

Here's a quote from Michele Theberge at themindfulartist.com which I think is worth repeating.

"There’s a delicate balance we artists ride between doing and being.

Too much “being” can be a disguised form of avoidance. Too much “doing” and our creative well dries up because it is never replenished."

There’s a delicate balance we artists ride between doing and being.
Too much “being” can be a disguised form of avoidance. Too much
“doing” and our creative well dries up because it is never replenished.
- See more at: http://themindfulartist.com/2011/03/meander-time/#sthash.tQ8YV9e8.dpuf

There’s a delicate balance we artists ride between doing and being.
Too much “being” can be a disguised form of avoidance. Too much
“doing” and our creative well dries up because it is never replenished.
- See more at: http://themindfulartist.com/2011/03/meander-time/#sthash.tQ8YV9e8.dpuf

There’s a delicate balance we artists ride between doing and being.
Too much “being” can be a disguised form of avoidance. Too much
“doing” and our creative well dries up because it is never replenished.
- See more at: http://themindfulartist.com/2011/03/meander-time/#sthash.tQ8YV9e8.dpuf

There’s a delicate balance we artists ride between doing and being.
Too much “being” can be a disguised form of avoidance. Too much
“doing” and our creative well dries up because it is never replenished.
- See more at: http://themindfulartist.com/2011/03/meander-time/#sthash.tQ8YV9e8.dpuf

There’s a delicate balance we artists ride between doing and being.
Too much “being” can be a disguised form of avoidance. Too much
“doing” and our creative well dries up because it is never replenished.
- See more at: http://themindfulartist.com/2011/03/meander-time/#sthash.IDMAd7Mz.dpuf

There’s a delicate balance we artists ride between doing and being.
Too much “being” can be a disguised form of avoidance. Too much
“doing” and our creative well dries up because it is never replenished.
- See more at: http://themindfulartist.com/2011/03/meander-time/#sthash.IDMAd7Mz.dpufI watched another video on abstract painting where a man painted and a woman created the colors. I think not mixing the colors would take a lot of the fun and adventure out of it for me.Here's a quote from Michele Theberge which I think is particularity insightful. "

2 comments:

Excellent perspective on color mixing. I don't think I ever measured how much of each color I has used. I cook the same way. People have asked me about my sauce recipe. It is hard to explain I don't really have one but just recently told someone I'll try to write it down. I learned by smell, color, texture, and taste. It will be interesting seeing what written recipe I come up with. Lol